Wire line clamp



May 12, 1931. H. GARDEN WIRE LINE CLAMP Filed May 31. 1929 i... 43 I War/11m! I mm W A TTORNEY.

Patented May 12, 1931 V I UNITE 'rrss PATENT OFFICE ENRY E. GARDEN, or AUGUSTA, ansas WIRE LINE CLAMP Application filed May 31, 1928. Seria1 1 Io. 367,S05.

The invention relates to an improvement in At 33 and 34 are ear-like elements integral wireline clamps such as are used in oil well withthe member 10 and between them at 3 5 is drilling equipment. V pivotally mounted a shaft 36 which extends The object of the invention is to provide through a hole 36% in the member 11. At a clamp through which the drilling cable may 1090 and 11m are projecting portions of the 55 be slipped without damaging thecable. members 10 and 11, each terminating in a In the drawings;'Fig. 1 represents a front U-shaped portion within which are respecview of my improved. clamp as mounted on tively housed the blocks 37 and 38 provided the usual temper screw. Fig. 2 shows a side with integral projecting pins 39-4O and view of Fig. 1. Fig.3 is a plan view of Fig. 1 tl 42, respectively, making a bearing as 60 as taken along the line IIIIII in Fig. 1 and seen in Figs. 1 and 3. The blocks 37 and 38 looking in the direction of the arrows. Fig. A are threaded, one with a right hand thread, is a sectional view taken along the line the other with a lefthand thread, to receive IVIV in Fig. 1. Fig. is a sectional view the right and left hand threaded screws on .15 taken along the line V-V in Fig. 3 looking in the shaft 45. The shaft 45 is provided with the direction of the arrows. Similar 1111- the cross handle 46 for turning the screws. merals of reference indicate corresponding At 47 and 48 are hook end portions of the parts throughout all the figures of the drawa members and. 11 for receiving the paired i links 49 and 50, connecting by the intermee 2. Referring to the drawings; at 10 and 11 are diate links51 and 52 to the upper links 53 and 7 0 shown paired body housing members 1101- 5 1 which engage the coupling 55 of the ordilowed out asseen at 12 and 13. Within the nary temper screw illustrated. These links space 12 and within the space 13 are inserted provide flexibility to prevent bending of the the paired block members 14 and 15 and rigtemper screw at the time of changing the idly positioned therein by the pins 16, 17 and load from the temper screw to the wire line. 75

18, 19 as disclosed, the pins passing through At 56 and 57 areshown passages through the blocks and body members. Around each the blocks 10 and .11 through which the cable block is an endless chain mechanism composed 22 will freely pass at all times. I I of a plurality of cable clamping elements 20 The mechanism operates as follows the 9 as individual links hinged together as at 20x. screw may be turned to release the pressure Each element 20 has a widened base 20y bearbetween the blocks 10 and 11, after which by ing against the adjacent block and between raismgon the knobs 31 and 32, the member the side walls of the housing member. The 26 is detached from engagement with the boss face of the element 20 is hollowed out as at 28 and the members 10 and 11 may be swung 21 forming a shoe-like face to receive the caapart. The rod36 merely slides in the hole ble 22. It will be understood that my endless 36m and functions as a guide for the members chain mechanism is not exposed as in theprior 10 and 11 and as a hinge .at the point 35. art. As it operates wholly within the body After this operation is completed, the wire members 10 and 11 around the blocks lt and line cable 22 may; be permitted to he slipped .3? 15, it may run in an oil bath while presenting in at the opening A Fig. 4 and positioned be- D a continuous face to the wire line. tween the opposed blocks 20, after which the i Upon the exterior of the member 10 are the member 26 and 27 is swung back and engaged I paired ribs 23 and 2A and between these ribs with the boss 28 Figs. 3 and A and the screw is pivotally mounted at 25 the member 26 4:5 tightened untll the cable 22 is tightly having a hook end portion 27 adapted toenclamped betweenthe paired chainscomposed gage the raised portion 28 intermediate the of the members-r20 and whlch friction against paired ribs 29 and30 on the memberll. A the blocks 14: and 15. The clamp and cable knob 31 on the member 26 serves as a handle is now ready for drilling operations; There for lifting purposes while at 32 is a knob on are times when it is desirable to drop the bit the member 11 also for handling purposes. further than the temper screw will permit.

all

Then the clamp has been loosened slightly and the Weight of the bit has caused the wire line cable to slip through the clamp this has resulted in damaging the line as well as wearing the clamp, so that it has been hard to make the clamp hold the line afterwards. By means of my improved clamping device this objection has been overcome.

This operation is now performed with my improved clamp as follows: the screw 45 is turned to release the clamping pressure of the blocks 10 and 11 and the weight of the bit pulls the line through the passages 56-57 but instead of sliding along the faces of the clamp it causes the. paired chains 20-20 to r ll around the members let and 15 during the downward travel of the line 22. After the desired drop has been obtained, the clamp is again tightened by means of the screw 45 and the. drilling operation resumed.

In dropping the bit as described, some wear will develop on the back sides of the members and the face of the members 14 and 15. This wear can be partially overcome by removing the blocks 14 and 15 and turning them around so that the opposite faces will be subjected to the, Wear.

of side by side housing members having hollowed out spaces receiving and enclosing endless chain elements; a block within each housing member and detachably afiixed thereto as a track for a chain element.

4. In a device as described in claim 3; a chain enveloping its respective block.

5. In a device as described in claim 3; a chain enveloping its respective block, said chain comprising a plurality of cable clamping elements as inc ividual links, each link having a widened base bearing against the adjacent block and between the side walls of the. housing member, the face of said link forming a shoe for receiving a cable.

6. In a device as described in claim 3; and a pair of chains, one fOlflIld enveloping each block and spaced apart as a cable passage; and a cable receivable within said cable p assage.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

HENRY E. GARDEN.

Such modifications may be emplo ed as lie within the scope of the appende claims. Having fully described my invention, what I new claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: g

1. In a device of the class described a pair of housin members arranged side by side i and with hollowed out spaces for receiving endless chain elements; a block within each housing member and rigid thereto and a chain element enveloping its respective bloc-k each chain link having its outer face hollowed as a shoe for contacting an intermediate wire cable; an extended portion for each housing member, each having a threaded block adapted to receive a threaded clamping shaft; a shaft having right hand and'left hand threaded portions for cooperation with said threaded blocks; a shaft hinged to one block and passing through a hole through the second housing block as a guiding means; and a hinged latch on one ousing member and a boss on the other housing member adapted for latching engagement. r

2. In a device of the class described; a pair of side by side housing members; a pair of endless chain elements, one for each menaber and housed'therein, each link element having a face portion fashioned as a show for contacting a wire cable; and block means for each housing member and around which its chain element may slide; latch means for engaging the tops ofthe housing members and screw clamping means for contracting and expanding the bases of said paired housing members.

3. In a wire line clamping device, a pair 

